Auburn signee capsules
AUBURN | Auburn signed 15 recruits on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period.
Here's a closer look at each signee and what Auburn coach Gus Malzahn had to say about them.
INFO: Talented quarterback who will enroll in January … led the Bartram Trail Bears to the Florida state Class 7A finals … passed for 1,468 yards and 12 TD and rushed for 1,100 yards with 16 scores as a senior … high school coach was Darrell Sutherland … Elite 11 finalist … Under Armour All-American Game … ESPN, Rivals, 247Sports four star … also a sprinter in track and field
MALZAHN: "Quarterback Joey Gatewood is a guy that's been committed to us for two years. Really, from my standpoint, he stayed loyal to us the whole time. Never flinched. We had a coordinator change, and he hung in there with us. He's a very big guy. He can run. He's very athletic. He has a chance to be real special for us, we feel like."
INFO: Productive running back who will enroll in January … rushed for 2,228 yards and 33 TD as a senior … Alabama state Gatorade Player of the Year for Coach Jeremy Perkins at Austin High … led the Black Bears to the Class 6A quarterfinals … Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game … ESPN, Rivals, 247Sports four star … No. 9-rated RB nationally by 247Sports … also a track and field letterman
MALZAHN: "He's very versatile. He's a guy that really reminds us of Kerryon Johnson. He can run. He can catch. He's a very good pass protector. We're very excited about him."
INFO: Electric all-purpose back from Chaminade-Madonna Prep … led the Lions to the Florida Class 3A state championships … high school coach was Dameon Jones … rushed for more than 6,000 yards in his prep career … all-Broward defensive player of year … ESPN, Rivals, 247Sports four star … state runner-up in the 100 meter dash
MALZAHN: "Shaun Shivers, running back. Really Shaun is one of the leaders of this class. It really helped with the recruiting and everything that goes with that. He kinda reminds me of Onterio McCalebb as far as speed in pads. He can really run. He plays a lot bigger than he is and really plays with a great edge with that."
INFO: Terrific safety prospect who plans to enroll in January … high school coach was Tim Caffey … Offense-Defense All-American Bowl … nominated for U.S. Army All-American Bowl … all-state and all-area … ESPN, Rivals, 247Sports four star … also a track and field letterman in the sprints
MALZAHN: "Jamien Sherwood, the defensive back, a big, athletic guy. He's 6-2, around 200. He played offense, played defense. I know a lot of schools were recruiting him to play offense. He's got that ability. I'm very excited about Jamien."
INFO: Physical safety who plans to enroll in January … led the Carver High Panthers to the Georgia state Class 5A semifinals … high school coach was Darren Myles … Under Armour All-American Game … ESPN, Rivals, 247Sports four star … No. 8-ranked safety according to ESPN and No. 9 athlete nationally by 247Sports … also a track and field letterman … given name is Quindarious
MALZAHN: "Smoke Monday is a tall, rangy guy, a defensive back. We think he can play corner, can play safety. He really plays with an edge and has a great personality. We're very excited about him."
INFO: Outstanding cornerback prospect for Coach Rob Ridings at Thomson High … led the Thomson Bulldogs to a 10-2 record and the semifinals of the Georgia 4A state playoffs … compiled 51 tackles and had 522 yards of total offense with 11 touchdowns as a senior … U.S. Army All-American Bowl … ESPN, Rivals, 247Sports four star … nephew of former NFL linebacker Danny Verdun Wheeler
MALZAHN: "Christian Tutt's a corner, really plays with an edge. He's got really good ball skills. He's a very good returner. What really stands out to me is his competitiveness. I'm very excited about him."
INFO: Explosive linebacker prospect who led the Tucker Tigers to the Class 6A state semifinals … high school coach was Bryan Lamar … first team all-state as a junior and Clayton News-Daily defensive player of year … ESPN, Rivals, 247Sports four star … 15th-ranked OLB nationally according to ESPN
MALZAHN: "Michael Harris is a big, rangy linebacker. He can play all the positions. He can rush the passer. I got a chance to watch him in person. He really played lights out. I'm very excited about him."
INFO: Physical linebacker prospect … high school coach at Valdosta High was Alan Rodemaker … 123 tackles, 20 TFL as a junior, leading the Wildcats to a state title … nominated for U.S. Army All-American Bowl … ESPN, Rivals, 247Sports four star … ranked No. 12 outside linebacker nationally by ESPN
MALZAHN: "Zakoby McClain's a great linebacker who can run. He's very physical. He's like a heat-seeking missile going to the ball. Very excited about him joining us."
INFO: Agile offensive line prospect … helped the Brooks Lions to the Alabama state Class 5A playoffs … high school coach was Brad Black … Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game … ESPN, Rivals, 247Sports three star
MALZAHN: "Kameron Stutts is a big, athletic offensive lineman. We think he's got a great upside. He was committed to us. He chose to come and still workout in camp. I think that says a lot about him. Really competitive and think his best days are ahead of him."
INFO: Outstanding offensive line prospect … played for Coach Ron Gartrell at Stephenson High … helped the Panthers to an 8-4 record and the Georgia Class 6A state playoffs … Offense-Defense All-American Bowl … Rivals and 247Sports four star … No. 5-rated center nationally according to ESPN
MALZAHN: "Jalil Irvin will play center for us. He's a guy that also was a big help with recruiting, one of the leaders of the class that really just set the stone and stayed consistent. We really think he's got a good upside too, very athletic."
INFO: Versatile contributor at receiver and safety who helped Bryant High to an Alabama Class 6A state playoff berth … high school coach was Eldrick Hill … Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game … ESPN, Rivals, 247Sports four star … fifth-rated player in Alabama according to 247Sports … ranked as the No. 10 athlete nationally by ESPN …also an all-state honoree in basketball and a state medalist in the long jump and high jump
MALZAHN: "Seth Williams is a big receiver. About 6-3, 215. Great basketball player. I think he's got great upside. He's a great athlete from Tuscaloosa. We haven't gotten many guys from there in the past."
INFO: Relative newcomer to American football … attended Champagnat Catholic School in Miami … coach was Dennis Marroquin … ESPN, Rivals, 247Sports four star … ESPN’s No. 19-defensive end prospect nationally … native of Nigeria
MALZAHN: "Kayode Oladele is a defensive end. He's a guy we think is going to be an excellent pass rusher. He also came to our camp and really stood out. I really like his personality and all that."
INFO: Wide receiver who will enroll in January … helped Hoover Buccaneers win Alabama state Class 7A championship … high school coach was Josh Niblett … Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game … ESPN, Rivals, 247Sports three star … nephew of Auburn great Bo Jackson
MALZAHN: "Shedrick Jackson, wide receiver. What really stands out about Shedrick, to me, is he's so polished. He came to our camp and did a great job with his route running coming in and out of breaks. He ran a 4.4. We think he's got a chance to be a real special player, too."
INFO: Speedy linebacker with great production … high school coach was Jere Adcock … led the state of Alabama as a junior with 206 tackles … nominated for Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game … ESPN, Rivals, 247Sports three star … also a track and field letterman … active in mission work
MALZAHN: "Josh Marsh, a linebacker, a guy that really caught our eye in camp. He ran a 4.48 in our summer camp and just flew around. He has an edge about him. I'm very excited about him."
INFO: Nation’s top-ranked junior college defensive end prospect who will be a January enrollee … recorded 48 tackles, 9 TFL at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College last fall … ESPN, Rivals, 247Sports three star … nationally ranked as a Top 10 overall JUCO prospect by ESPN and 247Sports … played at The First Academy in Orlando for Coach Leroy Kinard … Class 3A all-state … Florida Athletic Coaches Association all-district at running back and defensive line … Blue-Grey All-America Game
MALZAHN: "Daquan Newkirk, defensive lineman that has been committed to us for a long time out of high school. He had to go to junior college. He played running back in high school. Very athletic, big guy. Really excited about him."
